Several MPs of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today took part in a silent protest held outside the Borella Cemetery and urged the government to end mandatory cremation of COVID victims’ bodies. SJB MPs Rajitha Senaratne, Kumara Welgama, Mujibur Rahuman, Mano Ganeshan, Harsha De Silva, Eran Wickramaratne and Kabir Hashim took part in the demonstration. MP Mano Ganeshan said many countries have allowed burial of COVID victims except for Sri Lanka. MP Rahuman urged the government to withdraw the mandatory cremation. “We plead the government to listen to the voice of the people,” he said. Meanwhile, MP Hashim said the issue was a sensitive one and that the government has the capability to allow burials for COVID victims. “The government can do this under local and international laws and regulations. The President has the power to make a decision in this regard,” he said. MP Harsha De Silva said he joined the silent protest to urge President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconsider the decision to forcefully cremate Muslims dying of Coronavirus. "As a Buddhist, I believe we need to follow the middle path based on scientific evidence," he said.